PUBLIC LANDS.

Colonist, Issue 19, 25 December 1857, Page 2

PUBLIC LANDS.

[Any information respecting the administration of public lands in other colonies will be deemed of interest. The Rev. William Campbell, a Natal colonist, furnishes the Glasgow Herald, of September 11, with the following valuable facts as to the facilities afforded for the occupation of the lands of that rich territory., Previous to the passing of the Natal Land Ordinance, the lands were - spoken of as being " locked up" at the upset price of 4s. per acre! Now, however,*any industrious person can take up, to hold for ever, a farm of from thirty to three thousandacres, simply on the^ condition of paying a quit-rent of one farthing per acre annually. Whether the "rich soil in the fine clime of Natal should be let in perpetuity, at the . low rate specified, is more than doubtful. It isf odd enough that political economists in the coloniet rarely change their measures gradually. For the sake of popular effect, they mostly jump from one extreme to another. The, transition might have been large enough one might-have fancied to have proposed to Jet the lands for 14 or 21 years at the rents contemplated rather than have thus sacrificed them for ever.—E». Colonist.] Mr. Campbell says-^- _ v With regard to the first class of farms, situated in the upland districts of the country, where the climate and soil are well adapted for wheat and other European products, as also for the rearing of horned cattle, sheep, and horses, etc., a farm of any extent up to 3000 acres may now- be obtained in perpetuity at an annual .quit-rent;bf a farthing" per acre, or" '£& 2s.- 6d. for 3000 acres—the.only condition being actual occupation ofthe land by grantee, or a white substitute, for not' less than six months in the year. A friend who holds ahigh position in Natal, in a private letter, writes- , thus to me with reference to the above—"lf any- „, thing will induce the right sort of peiple to come out here, this very liberal measure must have that effect. In fact, it is already producing a sensation here, and a number of townspeople have applied for grants. Farmers and others at home, wha have any thoughts of settling in" Natal, would require to make up their minds without delay, a* there is almost a certainty of many of the farmers from the Cape colony, and beyond the Drakens-1 berg, speedily availing themselves of this opportunity of obtaining, farms." In regard to tlio second and third class of farms' situated nearer to the sea coast, 'some of these are .«. well adapted for the cultivation of hemp, and those descriptions of cotton in greatest demand in, the home market, viz., the upland American and ' Orleans. Dr. Addison,- who has given much attentioH to* the fibrous productions of Natal, in • transmitting ttf me a specimen of native hemp; writes thus:—" That this plalit could be cultivated - in this district to a vast extent; lam certain.*" If is probable that the whole of the hemp required by - the United Kingdom could be supplied from Natal." Adding, after milch valuable information: on the subject of flax and hemp* kiNo- country in the world possesses more abundant - streams and water-power for machinery than this, almost every farmer could have his otvn muVfof'cleaning andpreparing the fibre for market." " And with regard to its capabilities as a cotton-' growing country, I may here subjoin the opinions , of a gentleman now residing in Ntrial^ whosuper- . intended one of the largest cotton-spinning egtafc "